Method and System for Controlling Data Transmission to or From a Mobile Device

• US 20100299390A1
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Merrell, Thomas, Alameh, Rachid, Hede, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0325 using a plurality of light emitters or reflectors or a plurality of detectors forming a reference frame from which to derive the orientation of the object, e.g. by triangulation or on the basis of reference deformation in the picked up image

Abstract

Methods of operating mobile or other electronic devices so as to achieve a transmission of data between those devices, and related systems and components, are described. In one exemplary embodiment, a method of operating a first mobile device so as to achieve a transmission of data from the mobile device to an additional electronic device includes tracking a positional variation of an object situated proximate a display screen of the mobile device by determining locations of the object over time using a sensing assembly of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a point or region on the display screen based upon the tracked positional variation of the object, identifying an image portion corresponding to the point or region, where the data is associated with the image portion, and transmitting the data from the mobile device, whereby the data is capable of being received by the additional electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a first mobile device so as to achieve a transmission of data from the first mobile device to an additional electronic device, the method comprising:

tracking a positional variation of a first object situated proximate a display screen of the first mobile device by determining locations of the first object over time using a sensing assembly of the first mobile device;

determining a point or region on the display screen based upon the tracked positional variation of the first object;

identifying an image portion corresponding to the point or region, wherein the data is associated with the image portion; and

transmitting the data from the first mobile device,

whereby the data is capable of being received by the additional electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking includes sending and receiving infrared signals.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending or receiving at least one additional signal to pair the first mobile device with the additional electronic device, wherein the additional electronic device is a second mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending an offer signal from the first mobile device representative of an offer by the first mobile device to transmit the data.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving an acceptance signal at the first mobile device, the acceptance signal being indicative of an acceptance by the additional electronic device of the offer represented by the offer signal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, after the sending of the offer signal:

commencing operation of a timer, wherein the transmitting of the data is performed if the acceptance signal is received prior to expiration of a time period determined by the timer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device performs an identity confirmation operation by which an identity of a user of the first mobile device is confirmed, prior to the transmitting the data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the identity confirmation operation involves at least one of:

facial recognition, security code entry, finger print confirmation, voice analysis confirmation, or gesture detection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the locations are determined in three-dimensional space.

10. A method of communication between the first mobile device and the additional electronic device that comprises the method of claim 1 and that further comprises:

detecting at the additional electronic device a further position or a further manner of movement of a further object that is situated proximate the additional electronic device;

receiving an offer signal at the additional electronic device from the first mobile device; and

sending an acceptance signal from the additional electronic device for receipt by the first mobile device after the detecting at the additional electronic device and the receiving an offer signal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving the data from the first mobile device at the additional electronic device, wherein the additional electronic device is a second mobile device, and further comprising;

additionally transmitting the data from the first mobile device to at least one further mobile device.

12. The method of claim 10, where the first object and the further object are the same.

13. A mobile device comprising:

a sensing assembly that is configured to detect a position or manner of movement of an object proximate the mobile device by determining locations of the object over time;

a display screen; and

a processor at least indirectly in communication with each of the sensing assembly, the display screen, and a memory device,

wherein the processor upon receiving signals from the sensing assembly determines either (a) a correlated point or region of the display screen corresponding to the detected position or manner of movement, and further an image portion displayed on the display screen that is at or near the correlated point or region, or (b) that a data transmission offer should be accepted; and

wherein the mobile device further either (c) transmits first data available from the mobile device and corresponding to the image portion upon an additional condition being met, or (d) receives second data after sending an acceptance signal upon the determining of (b).

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the sensing assembly is an infrared sensing assembly that comprises:

a pyramid-type housing structure having a central surface and a plurality of outer surfaces each of which extends in an inclined manner away from the central surface;

a plurality of first photoelectric devices, wherein each first photoelectric devices is positioned proximate to a respective one of the plurality of outer surfaces; and

a second photoelectric device that is positioned proximate to the central surface,

wherein either each of the first photoelectric devices is a phototransmitter and the second photoelectric device is a photoreceiver, or vice-versa,

wherein each respective photoelectric device is oriented so as to correspond to the respective surface proximate to which the respective photoelectric device is positioned,

wherein the sensing assembly is operated so that infrared light is communicated between the second photoelectric device and at least two of the first photoelectric devices,

whereby the position or manner of movement of the object can be determined based upon the communicated infrared light, which is reflected off of the object during transit.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the sensing assembly is an infrared sensing assembly that comprises:

a plurality of first photoelectric devices, wherein each respective first photoelectric device is positioned proximate to another first photoelectric device; and

at least one second photoelectric device that is substantially centrally positioned about the plurality of first photoelectric devices,

wherein either each of the plurality of first photoelectric devices is a phototransmitter and the at least one second photoelectric device is a photoreceiver, or vice-versa,

wherein the sensing assembly is operated so that infrared light is communicated between the at least one second photoelectric device and at least two of the plurality of first photoelectric devices, and

whereby the position or manner of movement of the object can be determined based upon the communicated infrared light, which is reflected off of the object during transit.

16. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the sensing assembly includes a plurality of photoelectric devices situated at a plurality of positions about at least one of:

a perimeter of the display screen, a perimeter of the mobile device, or an area inside the perimeter of the mobile device.

17. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the sensing assembly is an infrared sensing assembly that comprises:

a plurality of discrete first photoelectric devices,

a circuit board having a top surface with the first photoelectric devices situated flatly thereon; and

a second photoelectric device situated substantially between the first photoelectric devices,

wherein the first photoelectric devices include a top portion for receiving a microfilm proximate thereto,

wherein the microfilm serves to optically bend an infrared beam projected from each first photoelectric device, and

wherein either each of the first photoelectric devices is a phototransmitter and the second photoelectric device is a photoreceiver, or vice-versa.

18. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the sensing assembly is an infrared sensing assembly that comprises:

a plurality of discrete first photoelectric devices,

a circuit board having a top surface carrying the first photoelectric devices; and

a second photoelectric device situated central to the first photoelectric devices,

wherein the first photoelectric devices include a top portion that is tilted with respect to the top surface, and

wherein either each of the first photoelectric devices is a phototransmitter and the second photoelectric device is a photoreceiver, or vice-versa.

19. The mobile device of claim 13, further comprising a component enabling verification of a user identity, the component including at least one of:

a video camera by which an image of a user can be obtained, a finger-print reader, or a voice analyzer.

20. A method of operating a first mobile device so as to achieve a transmission of data from the first mobile device to an additional electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting a position or manner of movement of a first object situated proximate a display screen of the first mobile device, wherein the detecting is performed by way of a pyramidal infrared sensing assembly;

determining a point or region on the display screen, the point or region being determined based upon the detected position or manner of movement of the first object;

identifying an image portion corresponding to the point or region, wherein the data is associated with the image portion;

transmitting an offer signal indicative of an offer by the first mobile device to send the data to the additional electronic device;

receiving an acceptance signal, the acceptance signal being indicative of a desire by the additional electronic device to receive the data; and

transmitting the data from the first mobile device for receipt by the additional electronic device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising, after the transmitting of the offer signal:

commencing operation of a timer, wherein the transmitting of the data is performed when the acceptance signal is received prior to an expiration of a time period determined by the timer, and wherein the additional electronic device is a second mobile device.